Printing-press



No. 753,164.' PATENTED PEB. 2.3, 1904..

J. Row.

PRINTING PRESS.

VAPPLICATION FILED AUG, 7, 1903. N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. ROWE.

PRINTING PRESS. 1

APPLIOATION F-ILED AUG. 7| 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1ro MODEL.

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IPATENED PEB. 23, 1904.

' J. ROWE.

PRINTING PRESS. APPLICATION FILED G. 7, 1903.

` 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H0 MODEL.

PATENTED FEB. 23, 1904.

J. ROWE.

PRINTING PRESS.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 7. 190s.

4 SHEETS-SHEET L H0 MODEL.

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Patented February 2e, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

JAMS ROWE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PRINTING-PRESS.

SPEGIICATIOIW forming part of Letters Patent No. 753,164, dated February23, 1,904.

Application filed August '7, 1903. Serial No. 168,655. (No modali) Toall whom t 11i/wy concern:

Beit known that I, .IA-Mns Rows, a citizen print same on one side only.

. tion in a printing-press,

the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have in vented certain new anduseful Improvements in Printing-Presses; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.. l

My invention relates toa novel construcand has for its object to providea press through which a continuous web is passed which may be printed onone or both sides and in one or more colors in one operation; and itconsists in the features of construction and combinations of partshereinaf ter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is aside elevation, partly broken away, of a printing-press constructed inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of same onthe line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail longitudinalsection on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail viewin elevation, showinga bearing of the inkingrollers. Figs. 5 and 6 aredetail views in elevation of two forms of clutch mechanism controllingthe web-shifting devices. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail elevation ofthe rack and the crank controlling same. Fig. 8 is a transverse sectionon the line 8 8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an outline elevation of my press,showing theV manner of passing the web in order to Fig. 10 is afragmentary detail elevation showing one of the printing-cylindersprovided with scoringknives for cutting paper boxes. Fig. 11 is a detailsectionon-the line 11 11 of Fig. 10.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a press which isparticularly adapted for printing sale-checks, time-tables, and similarmatter in very large quantities at minimum cost, this being accomplishedby printing one or'both sides in one or more colors at ,a single loperation.

Cther objects of invention will appear from the following description.

My press comprises a suitable frame l, on

which are mounted two printing-beds 2 and 8, which consist of twodiametrically opposite segments of a cylinder and on the edges of whichare concentric racks 4, with which the gears 5 of printing-cylinders 6,7, 8, and 9 mesh. The said printing-cylinders 6, 7, 8, and 9 arerevolubly mounted in movable journals 10 in the free ends of arms 11 ofan oscillating frame 12, journaled on trnnnions 13, concentric with saidprinting-beds 2 and 3. The

. said oscillating frame V12 is connected at one end by means of pitmen14 with the crankpins of spur-gears .15, meshing with gearpin ions 16 onthe drive-shaft 17. At a diametrically opposite point said frame 12 isconnected with the piston-rods of air-cylinders 18, which serve tosteady the movements of said frame and cushion same as it reaches thelimits of its movements. Said air-cylinders are mounted on trunnions andoscillate in accordance with the movements of said frame 12. The saidcyl-v inders 6, 7, 8, and 9 are designed to receive printing-plates 19,extending only over onehalf or less of their circumference, theremaining surface of said cylinders forming an ink-distributing'surfacewhich is fed by one of theinking-rollers 20, and from which theremaining rollers 21 are fed. The said inkingrollers 20 and 21 aremounted in movable journal-boxes 22, mounted in guides in the journals10, and normally held at the inner limits of their movement by means ofsprings 23. The said journal-boxes 22 each comprise two members hingedtogether and held in proper relative position by means of set-screws24e, said boxes being readily operated to remove the inlring-rollers toclean the latter. The inking-surface of each of the printingcylinders isof less radius than the printingsurface'of the plate 19. In order tofeedink to the said inlring-rollers 20, I provide further ink-distributingrollers on the frame of they machine, the latter being of commonconstruction and operation, and from the latter are fed two rollers 25,journaled in the free ends of oscillating arms 26, which are operated inaccordance with the movements of the frame 12 to throw said rollers 25into the path of rollers 27, carried and which are movable in U-shapedarms 28 on the journals 10 of the IOO cylinders 7 and 8, said rollers 27lying normally in contact with the roller and being raised out ofcontact with the latter when engaged by the roller to receive ink fromthe latter. Similarly-mounted rollers 27 on the cylinders 6 and 9 arebrought into contact with inking rollers 29 on the frame which liealways in the path of said rollers 27 f The said printing-cylinders 6,7, 8, and 9 are so arranged relatively to the printingbeds as to printonly during a part .of the movement of the frame-that is to say, thatduring the first and last quarters of the movement of said frame 12 saidcylinders do not print by reason of the fact that during said movementsthe inking-surfaces of said cylinder are presented toward the beds andby reason of their smaller radius are not brought in contact with theweb, two of said cylinders having passed beyond the ends of said beds,but are brought into printing position during the second and thirdquarters of the stroke of said frame 12. During such first and lastquarters of the stroke of said frame 12 the continuous web 30 of paperis shifted to bring a fresh portion of its surface into position, whileduring the second and third quarters of l the stroke said web remainsstationary. This I accomplish in the following manner: The

web 30 vis taken from a roll 31, revolubly mounted in suitable bearingsat one end of the machine, and is trained over idlers 32, 33, and 34 andthen passes over the bed 2. Upon leaving said bed it passes over aroller 35, which is intermittently rotated, as hereinafter described,and is then trained over a pair of compensating rollers 36, suitablyjournaled in an oscillating frame 37, which may be adjusted to anydesired position and then passes over the bed 3, where the opposite sideof the web is presented to the printing-cylinders. After passing oversaid bed 3 said web is 'trained over a second intermittently-rotatedroller 38, then over a second compensator 39, thence over a thirdintermittently rotated roller 40, which feeds it to cutting devices 41,Where said web is cut into sheets of uniform length. The saidintermittently-rotated rollers 35, 38, and 40 each carry ratchet-wheelsor other suitable clutch devices 42, which are rigid with said roller,while on the shaft of the roller is a loosely-mounted rotating gear 43,which carries a clutch dog or dogs 44, which engage said clutch memberwhen said gear rotates in one direction, while when said 'gear rotatesin the opposite direction it revolves freely. Each of said gears 43-ofthe rollers 35 and 38 is geared -to a reciprocating rack 45, while thegears of the roller 40 mesh with a reciprocating rack-bar 46. The saidreciprocating rack-bar'45 is enlarged between its ends and is' providedwith a vertical slot 47 in said enlarged portion, in which a slidingcrank-pin boX 48 is movable, which receives the pin 49 of a crank 50,carried by the shaft 51 of the gear-wheel 52, the latter being one-halfthe diameter of and meshing with said spur-gears 15. Thus said rack-bar45 is reciprocated twice for each revolution of said spur-gear 15.During the movement of said rack 45 towardthe roll 31 the said gears 43revolve freely, while upon the reverse movement of said rack they engagethe clutch members 42 and rotate said rollers, thereby feeding the web30 a predetermined distance. The

ydistance which said web 30 is fed must be variable in order to printsheets of various lengths, and to this end the crank-pin 49 is renderedadjustable toward and away from the shaft 5l, said pin being slidablymounted in a slot in the crank 50 and having a screwshaft 53, passingthrough its inner end, said screw-shaft being rotatably mounted in saidcrank 50 andheld against longitudinal movement therein. The rack-bar 46is similarly r'eciprocated by means of a similarly-adjustable crank-pinof the crank 54 of a countershaft 55, geared to the spur-gears 15 andrevolving at four times the speed of the latter, as hereinafter setforth. As the roll 31 is very heavy, it would be diflicult tointermittently revolve the same, particularly as its speed necessarilyincreases as the web is unwound in order to feed the same length in agiven interval. Any attempt at intermittent movement would lnecessarilyinvolve varying tension on the web, which aside from the danger oftearing might seriously interfere with'the register, and consequentlyIprovide means for continuously revolving said roll at a uniform surfacespeed, so that it will feed the requisite slack between the printingintervals to be taken up by the shifting devices. This I accomplish bymeans of a belt 56, trained over a driven pulley 57 and over an idler58, journaled in the free end of a frame 59, pivoted on the shaft ofsaid driven pulley 57, said belt being adapted to rest upon the roll 31and rotate the same by frictional contact therewith. The shaft of thepulley 57 carries a worm-wheel 60, meshing with a worm 61 on a shaft 62,which at its other end carries a longitudinally-movable friction-gear63, which is driven from a friction-disk 64, geared to said shaft 51,said gear 63 being movable toward and away from the center of said disk64 by means of the bellcrank lever 65 in order to vary the speed of saidshaft to accord with the variations in stroke of the rack 45.

The feeding of the web from the roll may be accomplished in variousways, and I therefore do not confine myself to the foregoing devices.

In operation my press is as follows: In the position of the oscillatingframe 12 shown in Fig. 1 the printing-rollers 6, 7, 8, and 9 are out ofprinting position and are at one limit of their movement, the web beingnow free to shift and in motion. The movement of the web continues untilthe spur-gears 15 have lOO completed an eighth of a revolution and thenremains stationary by reason of thefact that said rack-bar '45 nowbegins its movement toward the roll 31. As soon as said spur-gears 15have completed said one-eighth of their revolution the cylinders 6, 7,8, and 9 are brought into position to print and may print during thenext quarter of a revolution of said spur-gears 15 or during any part ofsaid movement, and upon completion of said quarter-turn the web is againshifted and continues its movement until the next succeedingquarter-turn of said spur-gears 15 is completed, as will be obvious.rlhe cylinder 6 may print in one color and the cylinder 7 in a differentcolor over a part of the surface, or one of said cylinders may numbert-he sheets printed by the other cylinder, and this operation would berepeated by the cylinders Sand 9 on the other side ofthe web., In orderto cause the impressions made by the cylinders 8 and 9 to register withthose made by the cylinders 6 and 7 the compensators 36 are set in awelllrnown manner, so that the web will be so fed upon the printing-bed3 as to bring the printed surfaces directly over the impression portionof said bed 3. In the position of the crank-pin as shown in Fig. 1 thefull stroke is imparted to the rack, and the web is consequently shiftedto the fullest eXtent-that is, a distance equal to the entire length ofthe impression-surface of each of the printing-beds and double thelength of the surface printed by any one of the cylinders 6, 7, 8, and9, so that when said web is shifted such distance the cylinder 6 Willprint on one part of the surface and the cylinder 7 on another part,while cylinder 8 will print over the same surface printed by thecylinder 6 either on the same or opposite side of the web, dependingupon the manner of passing said web. ByA

reducing the throw of the rack one-half all of the printing-cylinderswill print consecutively over the same surface. After being thus printedthe web is passed over the roller 38 A and thence over the compensator39, which is adjusted to feed the web to the cutting devices 41 in sucha manner as to cause the same to be cut o between the printed portion ofthe surfaces. The said cutter 41 is operated from an eccentric 66 on thedrive-shaft, which is connected with a rock-shaft 67 and the latterbeing in turn connected with the said cutter, said devices being old andwell known and It will beobvious that in shifting the web 30 it is veryessential to proper register that there should be no lost motion in theshifting devices and asl with the use of ratchet-wheels there isnecessarily some lost motion I prefer to use the friction-clutch devicesshown in Fig. 5, in which 35 is the member rigid with the shaft of theroller and 43 the gear carrying a plurality of spring-actuatedfrictiondogs 44, normally held in contact with the surface of the member35 and passing loosely over same when said gear 43 is revolved in onedirection, but when revolved in the opposite direction clutching saidmember`35 and causing same to be revolved in unison with the gear 43without lost motion.

My said press is adapted for a large variety of purposes and is capableof many slight modications to adapt it to certain purposes.

It the web 30 is to be printed on one side only, then it is led, asshown in Fig. 9, over the bed 2 in the opposite direction and from theupper end of the latter over the upper end of the bed 3, thus presentingonly one face to be printed upon. In this manner said face may beprinted in four colors in one passage through the press, or it may beprinted in three colors and the cylinder 9 be provided withscoring-knives and cutters 68, by means of which the web is scored andcut for producing paper boxes. i .Y

My construction is particularly advantageous, inasmuch as theprinting-beds are concentric with the pivot on which the oscillatingframe 12 swings, thereby rendering adjustment very easy and obviatingthe numerous parts subjected to wear with which printingpresses areusually encumbered and which are a constant source of trouble.

My said press is designed mainly for the .I

cheaper classes of work, particularly vwhere a plurality of colors aredesired Without the usual increase in cost resulting from the necessityof passing the sheets a number or' times through the press. I do notwish it to be understood, however, that my said press is incapable ofproducing high-class Work.

I claim as my invention-v 1. In a printing-press, the combination with asegmental impression-bed, and devices for feedinga web to be printedintermittently over same, of an oscillating frame swinging in an arcconcentric with said impression-bed and carrying the printing devicesmovable over said bed. Y

2. In a printing-press, the combination with a segmental impression-bed,and an oscillating frame swinging in an arc concentric with said bed andcarrying the other member of the printing-couple, of web-feeding devicescoacting with said last-named member of'said print- IOU IOS

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ing-couple, to feed the web to be printed at frame swinging in an arcconcentric with said bed and carrying the othermember of theprinting-couple, of web-feeding devices coacting with said last-namedmember of said printing-couple to feed the web to be printed apredetermined distance between the printing intervals. a

4. `In a printing-press, the combination with an oscillating membercarrying the printing member, and an impression-bed concentric with saidoscillating member, of Web-feeding devices coacting with saidoscillating member and engaging the web to be printed for moving saidweb a predetermined distance between lthe printing operations.

5. In a printing-press, the combination with an oscillating membercarrying the printing -member, and an impression-bed concentric withsaid oscillating member, of Web-feeding devices coacting With saidoscillating member and engaging the web to be printed for moving saidweb a predetermined distance as said oscillating member is adjacenteither limit of its movement.

6. The combination with an oscillating member, a printing-cylindercarried thereby, an impressionbed concentric with said oscillatingmember and over which said cylinder moves, and a raised printing-plateon said printingcylinder, of web-shifting devices coacting with saidoscillating member to shift said web when said raised portion of saidcylinder is out of printing relation with said bed.

7 The combination with an oscillating member, a printing-cylindercarried thereby, an ink-distributing surface on said cylinder, a raisedprinting-plate carried by said cylinder, and animpression-bed.concentric with the axis of said oscillating member, ofintermittentlyactuated web-shifting devices and means for impartingmotion thereto when said raised printing-plate carried by said cylinderis out of printing relation with said bed.

8. In aprinting-press, the combination with a segmental impression bed,concentric racks at each side of said bed, and an oscillating frameswinging in an arc concentric with said bed, of a printing-cylindercarried by said oscillating frame and movable over said bed, spur-gearsrigid with said cylinder and meshing with said racks, a raisedprinting-surface partially covering said cylinder, web-shifting devices,and gearing controlling the movements of said oscillating frame and saidwebshifting devices to`atuate the latter when said printing-surface ofsaid cylinder is out of printing relation with said bed and the web isfree.

9. In aprinting-press, the combination with a rigid segmentalimpression-bed, racks at each side thereof, concentric therewith, anoscillating frame swinging in an arc concentric with said bed, aprinting-cylinder carried by said frame, spur-gears rigid with saidcylinder and meshing with said rack, and a raised printing-surfacecovering part of said cylinder, of Web-shifting devices, gearing betweensaid web-shifting devices and said oscillating frame for operating saidshifting devices when said printing-surface of said cylinder is out ofprinting relation with said bed, and means for regulating the movementsof said web-shifting devices for varying the feed of the web.

l0. In a printing-press,the combination with a rigid impression-bed, anoscillating frame, a printing-cylinder carried by said frame and movableover said bed, and a raised printingsurface covering part of saidcylinder, of webfeeding devices and gearing between said webfeedingdevices and said frame for feeding said web when said printing-surfaceof said cyinder is out of printing relation with said be ll. Inaprinting-press,the combination with a rigid impression-bed, anoscillating frame, a printing-cylinder carried by said frame and movableover said bed, and a printing-surface covering part of said cylinder, ofweb-feeding devices, means common to said frame and said web-feedingdevices for operating the latter when said printing-surface of saidcylinder is out of printing relation with said bed, and means forvarying the feed of said web to accord with the length of the impressionmade by said cylinder. a

l2. In a printing-press, the combination with a rigid impression-bed, anoscillating frame, a printing-cylinder carried by said frame and movableover said bed, and a raised printingsurface covering part of saidcylinder, of webfeeding devices, a reciprocatingrack controlling same,means for varying the stroke of said rack to vary the length of web fed,and means common to said rack and said oscillating frame for actuatingsaid Web-feeding devices when said printing portion of said cylinder isout of printing relation with said bed.

13. In a printing-press, the combination with a rigid impression-bed, anoscillating frame, a printing-cylinder carried by said frame and movableover said bed, and a raised printingsurface covering part of saidcylinder, of webfeeding devices, a reciprocating rack controlling same,an adjustable crank operating said rack and adapted to vary the strokethereof to vary the feed of said web, and gearing between said crank andsaid oscillating frame to operate said web-feeding devices when theprinting-surface of said cylinder is out of printing relation with saidbed.

14. In a printing-press,the combination with an impression-bed, a rackrigid therewith, a printing-cylinder, spur-gears carried thereby andmeshing with said rack, a raised printingsurfacepartially covering saidcylinder, and means for setting said members in relative motion forprinting, of web-shifting devices, a reciprocating member, clutchdevices operable from said reciprocating member and IOO adapted toclutch and actuate said web-shittf ing devices when said reciprocatingmember moves in one direction, and gearing between f said means foroperating said printing mem- `adapted to clutch and actuate saidweb-shifting devices when said reciprocating member moves in onedirection, means for varying the stroke of said reciprocating member forregulating the length of web fed, and gearing between said printingmembers and said reciprocating members for causing said web-shiftingdevices to be actuated when said printing members are out of printingrelation with each other.

16. In a printing-press, the combination with an impression-bed, aplurality of printing-cylinders movable over diiierent parts 4of saidimpression-bed and provided with segmental raised printing-surfacescovering part of the surface of each cylinder, and means forsimultaneously operating said cylinders, of welo-V shifting devices,gearing between the same and said cylinder-operating devices to actuatesaid web-shifting devices between the printing intervals, and means forvarying the feed oi' said web to present a fresh surface simultaneouslyto all cylinders or to present the same surface successively to each ofsame.

17. In a printing-press,the combination with an impression-bed, aplurality of cylinders simultaneously movable over different parts ofsaid bed and provided with raised printingsurfaces covering part of theperiphery of each cylinder, and means imparting motion to said cylinder,of web-shifting devices, gearing between the same. and saidcylinder-operating devices to actuate said web-shitting devices whensaid printing portions of said cylinders are out of printing relation,and means for regulating the length of web fed at each operationincluding a reciprocating member hav- "ing a variable throw, gearingbetween said member and said web-shifting devices, and means forthrowing said gearing into operation when said member moves in onedirection. Y

18. In aprinting-press, the combination with an impression bed, aplurality of printing members each operating on a dierent portion ofsaid bed, and means for simultaneously operating said printing members,of web-feeding mechanism, gearing between the same and said printingmembers for actuating said webfeeding devices between the printingintervals, and means controlling the length of web i'ed at eachoperation, including a reciprocating member, a crank, and aradially-adjustable cranl-pin engaging said reciprocating member to varythe stroke thereof.

19. In a printing-press, the combination with two oppositelyT disposedimpression beds, printing members movable over said beds, and a singleframe common to both said members, of web-shifting devices, gearingcom-I mon to the latter and said frame to actuate said web-shiftingdevices between the printing intervals, compensating devices betweensaid impression-beds engaging said web, and means for varying the Jfeedof said web.

20. In a printing-press,the combination with two oppositely disposedimpression-beds, printing members movableV over each of said beds, andconnection between said members for simultaneously operating same, ofwebshifting devices, and gearing between the latter andsaid printingmembersfor actuating said web-shifting devices between the printingintervals. Y

21. In a printing-press,the combination with the oppositely disposedimpression beds, printing members movable over each of said beds, andconnection between said members for 'simultaneously operating same, ofwebshitting devices, and gearing between the latter and said printingmembers Jfor actuating said web-shifting devices between the printingintervals, and devices controlling said web-shifting devices for varyingthe stroke thereof, including aradially-adjustable crankpin engaging apart of said web-shifting mechanism. l

22. In a printingpress,the combination with a plurality ofimpression-beds, a plurality of printing members movable over each ofsame, means for simultaneously operating all of said printing members,and web-shifting devices common to both said beds, of gearing common tosaid printing members and said web-shifting devices for actuating thelatter between the printing intervals.

23. In a printing-press,the combination with a plurality ofimpression-beds, a plurality of printing members movable over each ofsame, means for simultaneously operating all of said printing members,and web-shifting devices common to both said beds, of gearing common tosaid printing members and said webshifting devices for actuating thelatter between the printing intervals, and means for varying the throwof said web-shifting devices including aradially-adjustable revolublecrank-pin engaging a part of said web-shift- 'ing mechanism.

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commonl to both said beds, of gearing common to said printing membersand said webshifting devices for actuating the latter between theprinting intervals, compensating devices between the impression-bedsengaging the web to control the register, and means for varying thethrow of said web-shifting devices including a radiallyadjustablerevoluble crank-pin engaging a part of4 said web-shifting mechanism.

25. In a printing-press, the combination with a plurality ofimpression-beds, a web movable consecutivelgyT over said beds, printingmembers movable simultaneously over said beds and printing consecutivelyover each given section of said web, and compensating devices engagingsaid web to control the register thereof of said various beds, ofweb-shifting devices, gearing common to said printing members and saidweb-shifting devices to actuate thel latter between the printingintervals, and

means controlling said web-shifting devices to vary the throw thereof.

26. In aprinting-press,the combination with a plurality ofimpression-beds, a web movable consecutively over said beds, printingmembers movable simultaneously over said beds and printing consecutivelyover each given section of said web, and compensating devices engagingsaid web to control the register thereof on said various beds, ofweb-shifting devices, gearing common to said printing members and saidweb-shifting devices to actuate the latter between the printingintervals, and means controlling said web-shifting devices to vary thethrow thereof, including a radiallyadjustable revoluble crank-pinengaging a part of 'the web-shifting mechanism.

27. In a printing-press,the combination with two diametrically oppositesegmental impression-beds, printing members movable over same, and anoscillating frame swinging on the axis of said impression-beds, ofweb-shifting mechanism, gearing common to the latter and saidoscillating frame to actuate said webshifting mechanism between theprinting intervals, means for varying the feed of the web to accord withthe length of the impression thereon at each operation, and compensatingdevices between said impression-beds engaging said web to control theregister.

28. In a printing-press,the combination with the diametrically oppositeconcentric' segmental impression-beds, an oscillating frame swinging onthe axis of said impression-beds, two cylinders at each end of saidframe mov- .ing over said impression-beds, and having gearing forvarying the throw of said webshifting mechanism, a revoluble roll fromwhich the web is taken, and variable-speed gearing engaging said roll torevolve the same at a uniform speed in accordance with the rapidity ofoperation of said web-shifting mechanism.

29. In a printing-press,the combination with a bed, and a frame movableover said bed, of a cylinder journaled in bearings in said frame andhaving its surface divided into two segmental parts of different radius,one of said parts forming an ink-distributing surface and the otherthereof a printing-surface, and inkdistributing rollers journaled insaid frame and adapted to be brought alternately in contact with saidtwo parts of the surface of said cylinder as the latter revolves.

30. In a printing-press, the combination with a bed and a revolublecylinder, said bed and cylinder being relatively movable, of memberscarrying said cylinder, inking-rollers journaled in said member and heldin contact with said cylinder, an ink-distributing surface on saidcylinder and a printing-surface on said cylinder of longer radius thansaid inking-surface adapted to receive ink from said rollers.

. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in

